Five file for school board seats, board looks toward 22-23 budget

     Five candidates have filed for two seats on the Grain Valley School board. Incumbents Julie Groff and Michael Hackett have filed for re-election. Additional candidates include April Claphan, Jeffrey Porter, and Jason Williams. Voters will select two candidates on April 5th; the deadline to register to vote for the April election is March 9th. 
     In a January 7th board workshop, the board looked to the 2022-23 school year, reviewing initial drafts of the 2022-23 school calendar and 2022-23 budget.
     The initial school calendar lists the first day of school on August 22nd. Dr. Nick Gooch, Assistant Superintendent, Support Services, shared there is discussion regarding the timing of the end of the first semester. First semester currently ends in mid-January following holiday break; there have been discussions around ending first semester before holiday break. 
​     The board also reviewed the initial draft of the 2022-23 budget, which is currently in the red by $2,734,329.16. The bottom line will improve if expected state funding is approved this spring. The budget includes a number of line items the board previously identified as priorities, including an increase to teacher base salaries, six additional positions to be added in 2022-23, as well as hourly rate increases for transportation and non-certified staff. 
     In other business, the board reviewed 2021 Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and end of course (EOC) assessment scores. With the exception of 8th grade math scores, the district performed above the state average. In addition, the board reviewed the first reading of a revision of the district's searches of students policy to include the use of handheld metal detectors. The board also approved the addition of five teaching positions and one counselor position to be filled for the 2022-23 school year.